Occasions

A TALE OF TWO KINGS

Heard of the Tale of Two Cities by Charles Dickens.
This message I've entitled A Tale of Two Kings – see why as we progress.

Palm Sunday

Some churches give crosses, last forever!
One church gave pampas grass heads – fine for a while but then disintegrated – the mess!

Set the Scene

We can sometimes forget Israel (or Judea as it was called then) was an occupied nation. Not ruled by religious leaders from Jerusalem but by The Emperor from Rome. Under him, Judea was administered by a Govenor – Pontius Pilate at that time.
Far from being a free nation run by the Jewish leaders they were a nation controlled by a secular forceful occupying army.

There had been several Jewish uprisings before this time, all being quashed by force. Now the people were looking for a way out of their servitude to Rome. Was Jesus the leader to initiate a new uprising and bring freedom to the nation?

Let's also remember that this day was the day before the first day of Passover observance. This day was an important day for the Nation.The Jews knew it and so did the Romans.

When Jesus rode into Jerusalem on that “Triumphal entry” the crowds laid their outer clothes, palm leaves and soft branches from the surrounding shrubs and trees.

It was a traditional honour reserved for the arrival of kings, rulers and dignatries.
Symbolic of Jesus demonstrating His kingship and the recognition by the people at that moment.

Look at Palm Sunday in 4 ways:
Two Kings
Two Processions
Two Kingdoms
Two Outcomes

Here we have from scripture and from history:
Two Kings arriving in Jerusalem
Two Processions entering from opposite sides of the city
A glimpse into Two Opposing Kingdoms
Two Very Different Outcomes for those Kingdoms.